markmcclelland Posted January 29, 2016 Author Share Posted January 29, 2016 Oh yes. Seems like a little thing but I guess really quite important. Noted and will be done. Thanks for that thought Pete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markmcclelland Posted January 29, 2016 Author Share Posted January 29, 2016 [color=#292F33][font=Arial, sans-serif]I now live on my own in a two bed caravan next to a container in a lorry park on an industrial estate. The London Diary. Day 1. October 2 [/font][/color][url="https://t.co/xfnD0dLwpy"][size=1]https://[/size]marksdiaries.wordpress.com[size=1]/[/size][size=1] [/size][/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetheblues Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Hey Mark, I would like to let you know that I am enjoying reading what you have posted so far on WordPress I like your style of storytelling, it's engaging. I can't wait to read what comes next! You mention your Backstory - I have to find that and read more Thank you so much for sharing your experienes. Cheers, and keep up the great work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markmcclelland Posted January 31, 2016 Author Share Posted January 31, 2016 Hey Thankyou so much for letting me know that. Really appreciated. You know, I wrote quite a lot of the backstory ages ago and then just kind of stopped it. Then I thought it was a bit presumptuous to think that people would be interested in it. Then I just started bits and pieces it in through The Diaries - I'm over year ahead of what's on Wordpress. But you may have just been the catalyst for me to return to it. I actually don't think I'd have that much more to write. But where to put it? Hmmm. I'll have to think about that. Oh. As I've been writing this I've been having an idea or two. OK. Back to thinking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markmcclelland Posted February 1, 2016 Author Share Posted February 1, 2016 [color=#141823][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] Tuesday October 7[/font][/color][color=#141823][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] So there’s someone out there and it’s past midnight. But I’m on an industrial estate with double locked gates and a tall spiky fence. This doesn’t seem quite right.[/font][/color][color=#141823][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] https://marksdiaries.wordpress.com/[/font][/color] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markmcclelland Posted February 5, 2016 Author Share Posted February 5, 2016 (edited) The latest instalment is short but a total game changer. So it deserves to be put up in full here. For the first time, I'm asking if you could share this with your friends on twitter, facebook or whatever you use and see if they'll share it and so on. So many people have told me they are addicted so there must be something to it and I think the time has come to really give it a push. If you are reading this, I know you are already a reader. And for that I thank you. It's all here. https://marksdiaries.wordpress.com/ [b][size=4]Day 16[/size][/b] [size=4][b]Friday October 17 (2014)[/b][/size] [size=4]A few things have happened in the last week that I was going to talk about a little but I just didn’t get round to them. There was a funny little water supply anecdote. And one night I got ‘home’ and none of the lights worked. Another day we had quite nasty weather and I got back from work to find the skylight cover I’d put up had been ripped clean off leaving a gaping hole above the shower. One night I had another unexpected visitor to stay. Although he ended up not sleeping in the caravan, he did come in and we watched the England San Marino game together and generally got on very well. There were some other little bits and pieces. Instead I’m going to tell you this.[/size] [size=4]A friend of mine once got hit by a car on the way to college. It happened on a dual carriageway – a kind of highway for non-English readers. He was knocked all the way to the other side of the road, almost into traffic coming in the other direction. Not only was he absolutely fine but he got up, picked up his things and continued on his way. How much interaction happened with anyone on the scene I have no idea. I just know he went to college as though nothing had happened. But as soon as he arrived, his classmates took one look at him and said, ‘What the hell happened to you?’ He says he doesn’t know what it was but everyone knew without a doubt that something bad had just happened. Well he told them about the accident and they told him to just leave and go straight home.[/size] [size=4]This is exactly the first thing I say to Dave when I decide to stop and talk to him. He’d seen me walking down the street and into the yard to go back to the caravan. Dave’s a lorry driver for the company, among other things. People do lots of different jobs here. I think we’ve spoken maybe twice since I’ve been here so he doesn’t know me at all. Doesn’t know the way I walk, doesn’t know my expressions, nothing. But when he sees me walking towards him, well, in his general direction on the way to the caravan at least, he somehow knows something isn’t right. ‘What’s wrong with you?’ he calls out. At first I say, ‘Nothing,’ and take the left turn I was intending to take before his intervention. Then, I change direction, go to stand next to him and, with my back against a wall, tell him the story I’ve told you there.[/size] [size=4]When I’ve finished, I look him in the eye and say, ‘I just got fired.’[/size] Edited February 5, 2016 by markmcclelland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markmcclelland Posted February 11, 2016 Author Share Posted February 11, 2016 Day 16 of the London Diary - Friday October 17 2014 When worse than the imagined worst case scenario happens, what do you do about it? That's what our intrepid hero is having to ask himself today and, it would seem, for quite a few of the next days. https://marksdiaries.wordpress.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markmcclelland Posted February 22, 2016 Author Share Posted February 22, 2016 [color=#141823][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] The green shoots of London? Maybe, just maybe.[/font][/color][color=#141823][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] https://marksdiaries.wordpress.com/2015/12/19/day-28/[/font][/color] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmettC Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Hi Mark, I don't know if you remember me, but I was the sound engineer and manager in Fredz in Cork and the bass player for Fred. I started reading your diary today, I wasn't surprised to enjoy it as I still recall your articles, but I haven't gotten very far so I don't know where you are now. I've been living in Edinburgh for 14 years now, and I've been making a living playing bass here in a function band, it's great playing gigs for money the major drawback is I can't get involved enough with original music anymore, just the odd dep gig. I still think for function band stuff the UK, and Scotland in particular is the place to be, though a lot of my musician friends are doing really well in Dubai. I don't get hung up on the definition of pro, but I know I would prefer to listen to (early) U2 than a Victor Wooton album, but Victor Wooton is far better than Adam Clayton, they are both pros though. I hope you're doing well wherever you are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markmcclelland Posted March 4, 2016 Author Share Posted March 4, 2016 https://marksdiaries.wordpress.com/2015/12/19/day-31/ And so begins possibly the most eventful period since Costa Blanca. A few firsts, a few rays of hope, and then disaster as the threat of homelessness strikes again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markmcclelland Posted March 7, 2016 Author Share Posted March 7, 2016 [color=#141823][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]The one where I live in three completely different areas of London in one entry. And an audition to prepare for at the same time.[/font][/color] [color=#A3AAAE][font=proxima-nova,]http://bit.ly/1M2x3cy[/font][/color] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted March 8, 2016 Share Posted March 8, 2016 [quote name='markmcclelland' timestamp='1457353113' post='2997567'] [color=#141823][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]The one where I live in three completely different areas of London in one entry. And an audition to prepare for at the same time.[/font][/color] [color=#A3AAAE][font=proxima-nova,][url="http://bit.ly/1M2x3cy"]http://bit.ly/1M2x3cy[/url][/font][/color] [/quote] I really enjoyed that... I live on the edge of Camden / Kentish Town and can visualize just about everywhere you describe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markmcclelland Posted March 8, 2016 Author Share Posted March 8, 2016 Hey Rob that's class. Thanks a lot mate. May catch you around sometime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted March 8, 2016 Share Posted March 8, 2016 (edited) [quote name='markmcclelland' timestamp='1457430816' post='2998368'] Hey Rob that's class. Thanks a lot mate. May catch you around sometime. [/quote] I've just read through all your London section of the blog... It's a really engaging read and sounds like you've been through some sh*t trying to do what you want with your life. I'm far too much of a "safe and secure job" type guy to ever have the balls to go it alone like you are! I really hope things work out for you. Make sure you post up any gigs etc. Edited March 8, 2016 by CamdenRob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stylon Pilson Posted March 8, 2016 Share Posted March 8, 2016 Mark, Really enjoying reading these diaries. I just thought I should let you know that a couple of the articles have been placed out of sequence and need to be swapped over - London Day 18 and Day 22. S.P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markmcclelland Posted March 8, 2016 Author Share Posted March 8, 2016 [size=4][quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1457440508' post='2998526'] I've just read through all your London section of the blog... It's a really engaging read and sounds like you've been through some sh*t trying to do what you want with your life. I'm far too much of a "safe and secure job" type guy to ever have the balls to go it alone like you are! I really hope things work out for you. Make sure you post up any gigs etc. [/quote][/size] [size=4]Thankyou very much Rob. And yes, it's definitely not for secure types. Many years ago, a very good and secure friend of mine said, 'Your lifestyle would terrify me.' And yes, you are definitely right about the trying times but that's where all the drama comes from - and some of the comedy when I get the writing right. And I never thought it would be easy. That said, what actually did happen was way off the scale of what I'd considered as a worst case scenario before I came. Now there's a teaser for anyone who's not read it yet. And yes. I will post the gigs. I hadn't thought of doing that on here before and I just did three last weekend. Well, the next ones I will. Also, I'm currently writing the back story to go as a bio on the wordpress page and that will cover Madrid which led to Costa Blanca and the genesis of The Diaries. I was in Madrid for six years and it was one very difficult place to get out of. Hence taking the massive chance I did to move to London when it came up. I'll leave you with the last lines of The Costa Blanca Diary. "[color=#474747]I arrive in Madrid about 11pm with a non-existent bank account, no job and an August that offers very little prospect of one. Beware. That’s what can happen when you take a big risk and back yourself. At the next opportunity I’m going to do it all again."[/color] [quote name='Stylon Pilson' timestamp='1457451655' post='2998714'] Mark, Really enjoying reading these diaries. I just thought I should let you know that a couple of the articles have been placed out of sequence and need to be swapped over - London Day 18 and Day 22. S.P. [/quote][/size] [size=4]Hey Stylon. Thanks a lot for the props and thanks a lot for letting me know. I'll get on it.[/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markmcclelland Posted March 11, 2016 Author Share Posted March 11, 2016 After a caravan, friend's bedroom floor and totally unfurnished, unheated three day emergency measure, I have a place. And my first audition. It's been a horrendously bumpy landing but London is finally saying 'Oh alright. In you come.' http://bit.ly/1P3HOLD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LewisK1975 Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 That one's a bit more positive Mark! Ha! Enjoyed that one.....been reading the last few through fingers!... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markmcclelland Posted March 11, 2016 Author Share Posted March 11, 2016 Hey Lewis. Thanks a lot man. Believe me, I was living it through fingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markmcclelland Posted March 14, 2016 Author Share Posted March 14, 2016 Another band interested and I meet my first ever real life SBLer who has quite the surprise for me. https://marksdiaries.wordpress.com/2015/12/19/day-48/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raymondo Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 Hi Mark ....loving the diary as usual. I am intrigued by the "Frog" bass you mention that your new friend has....Is it actually frog shaped or is that something you share on the SBL site? I know of only one frog shaped bass, it belonged to Wayne Evans who was/is a member of the Nottingham band Gaffa....he also plays with, The last pedestrians and is a bit of a local hero (certainly to me). I haven't seen him with the frog bass for many years....I must ask him about it the next time I see him! Oh well just musing. I look forward to you writing more on your journey to superstardom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markmcclelland Posted March 14, 2016 Author Share Posted March 14, 2016 Hey Raymondo Thankyou very much mate. Really great to hear and appreciated you took the time to let me know. As for the bass, Frog is purely the name of it. As far as I know, it shares absolutely no characteristics with those strange amphibian fly eating creatures. It always freaks me out when I see them just happily sitting on the bottom of ponds with zero fear of drowning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raymondo Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 Ha ha I've never thought of frogs that way! I was inspired to search for pics of Wayne and his guitar...I found this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jB_zDJwTO4k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markmcclelland Posted March 15, 2016 Author Share Posted March 15, 2016 Oh bloody hell. It's a ... frog. Brilliant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 (edited) What happened with Omater Mark? I met up with her about six months before you did for a coffee and a chat about playing bass for her. It would never have worked we were polar opposites in how we approach music and songwriting, but she was very dedicated to what she wanted to achieve. She could sing as well so I wouldn't be surprised if she did end up making something of it. Edited March 15, 2016 by CamdenRob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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